How to use system Java instead of the bundled JRE

Platform Notice: Data Center Only - This article only applies to Atlassian products on the Data Center platform.

Note that this KB was created for the Data Center version of the product. Data Center KBs for non-Data-Center-specific features may also work for Server versions of the product, however they have not been tested. Support for Server* products ended on February 15th 2024. If you are running a Server product, you can visit the Atlassian Server end of support announcement to review your migration options.

*Except Fisheye and Crucible

Purpose

The Confluence installer comes with its own JRE hence Confluence won't use the system JRE when it has been installed using the Installer. To configure Confluence to use the system JRE please follow the steps below:

Solution

  1. Shutdown Confluence

  2. Edit <Confluence_Installation_Directory>/bin/setjre.bat for Windows or setjre.sh for Linux

  3. Find the following lines

    setjre.bat

    1 SET "JRE_HOME=<Confluence_Installation_Directory>\jre"

    or

    setjre.sh

    1 JRE_HOME="<Confluence_Installation_Directory>/jre"; export JRE_HOME

  4. Change the JRE_HOME value with the absolute path of your system JRE (or comment out if JAVA_HOME is set.)

  5. Save

  6. Restart Confluence

Updated on April 8, 2025
Platform
Data Center only
Product
Confluence Data Center

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